It’s been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. I never in my lifetime thought I would be saying that about the occupant of the most powerful office in the land, but there it is. This is what we have beem reduced to- the inmates are now running the asylum.
I went to see the magical “Pericles” at the Shakespeare Theater the other night.
In ancient Greece, the prince of Tyre tires of all the yes men around him. He chooses to trust the one courtier who intrepidly tells him: “They do abuse the king that flatter him. … Whereas reproof, obedient and in order, fits kings, as they are men, for they may err.”
Not flatter the king? Listen to dissenting viewpoints? Rulers who admit they’ve erred?
It’s all so B.C. (Before Cheney).
Now, in the 21st-century reign of King George II, flattery is mandatory, dissent is forbidden, and erring without admitting error is the best way to get ahead. President Bush is purging the naysayers who tried to temper crusted-nut-bar Dick Cheney and the neocon crazies on Iraq.
First, faith trumped facts. Now, loyalty trumps competence. W., who was the loyalty enforcer for his father’s administration, is now the loyalty enforcer for his own.
Those promoted to be in charge of our security, diplomacy and civil liberties were rewarded for being more loyal to Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney than to the truth.
In the new Millenium, it seems clear that loyalty is more highly valued than the pursuit of the truth. Following the party line trumps competence. Marching in lockstep is prized above service to country. Blind allegiance rules overs diversity of opinion. Bootlickers wield more influence than those willing to offer honest and independent insight. This is what George W. Bush and his neo-Conservative henchmen have wrought…and we are all the poorer for it.
Congratulations, America. You just elected exactly the quality of leadership we deserve. I had no idea that our standards were so abysmally low.
